Record producer GEORGE MARTIN, among many people dubbed "The Fifth Beatle", died on March 8, aged 90. Sir George helped the Beatles achieve global success as the head of the Parlophone record label after hearing their demo tape in 1962.

It was to Martin, then head of Parlophone Records, a subsidiary of EMI, that Brian Epstein turned in 1962 when every other label had rejected the band, and it was Martin who signed the Beatles after meeting them in June of that year.